Bookworm: A Dynamic Reading Goal Created Over 3 years
I want to continue to write about reading and my journey. I’ve done research on where we are as Americans in terms of reading and the data is not good. Some of that points to the boom of technology/social media but as a culture, an area where we are failing is properly educating ourselves. Whether this is through fiction or nonfiction, the majority of Americans don’t open books. We don’t challenge others to read. It’s simply that the readers are readers while the nonreaders stay nonreaders. I’m pushing to change that. Slowly but surely.
Drew Jay Davis, May 16th 2024
I didn’t read much growing up.
My parents didn’t force me to read growing up.
But Mrs. Houston did.
Mrs. Houston is my high school coach’s mom who passed away just over a year ago. She trapped me into reading. Well if im being honest, she bullied me in a motherly way.
One summer day in high school when I was over his house, she asked me had I read a certain book. I replied that I had not. She retorted “well let’s make that happen and you can write a report on it.”
I looked around a little confused. I did not sign up for any Summer reading and or homework. That’s the exact reason I did so well in school DURING the year, so I wouldn’t have to do homework/school in the Summer.
So as the weeks and months went by, she constantly asked about it. Giving me side eyes when this report still wasn’t done even as I progressed through college at the University of Oregon. I finally asked my coach “is she ever going to stop asking about this book report?” Polica simply smiled and said “not anytime soon.”
It wasn’t until my junior or senior year when I finally took the time to read this book and write the short book report.
Upon completing both, I surprised Mrs. Houston and had the papers ready for her next time I went to my coach’s house. She showered me with love and praise and I remember her vividly saying “now, that wasn’t so hard was it?”
It actually was.
I never had someone be so blatantly expecting of something from me. Someone that didn’t truly know me as a young man. Someone that put expectations on me that even I would’ve gladly passed on.
You have to understand as young black men, sometimes we need someone to take an interest in us. Someone that sees our potential and works to cultivate it. Someone that looks to see what buttons they can push with you in order to get results.
That’s exactly what she did. More importantly, I believe that’s just who she was.
From that point in time, I knew how important it was for me to expect great things from myself.
Not just great things in athletics and on the field of play. But in anll areas encompassing my growth as a young man.
I wish I could say from that point on I became a voracious reader but I didn’t. The reading bug bit me a little bit later, but better late than never.
The Journey of a Reader
Going into my senior year of college, I decided that reading would be something I made a conscious effort to focus on.
We had high expectations for the upcoming season as a football team. Since I was moving into an apartment by myself, I would skip out on installing cable and live solely off cult classic movies and stand up comedy dvds.
In addition to this, I ordered an Amazon Kindle (just hit the market back then) and purchased some books to get rolling. Through the summer and the season, when I had down time, I would read at home. There might’ve been soft music playing in the background but it was usually me sitting in silence in my living room.
This was the beginning of reading a few books every year. Some years I read more books than others, but it was slowly taking hold of me.
Flash Forward: Reading with a Purpose
I began to track my reading in 2022. With so many apps and resources to do so, I began to understand that there are people who connect through books. I leaned more into reading as a hobby. Intent on allowing others into my space of books I enjoy(ed) that can give more insight into Drew as a person.
I track my reading through Goodreads and my Kindle.
The Kindle app allows me to track all my ebook reads. I’ve come a long way since my very 1st Kindle but so has the company and product itself. So instead of me needing a physical kindle to read, all I need is the app which is located on my iPad and my iPhone. That way, I can sneak read whenever time allows.
Goodreads is where I track all my reading. There’s a website and an app which makes it easier to enter page numbers and submit. You can actually make a Goodreads challenge yearly for your target goal of books you would like to complete in the upcoming year. This number can be adjusted as needed so you’re not locked into a specific number. As a Certified Life Coach, I love this idea. It’s great to set goals but it’s even more important to write these goals down and have them visible to see often.
2022
2022 was a very interesting year. I decided to go to acting school while simultaneously in a graduate program for Sport Coaching. There was no shortage of reading during this time to say the least.
The only setback to continuing your education is the reading load is usually heavy. So instead of having time to read leisurely, that time is usually spent reading materials for class or not having a book anywhere in your vicinity. Ask anyone going after a masters or a doctorate, they usually don’t have time for people let alone leisurely reading.
I did read a heavy dose of plays. Though they are not included in the breakdown below, I’ve received value from plays through the authors and characters (I’ll talk about this in the future).
Although plays are reads, I didn’t consider them books at the time. I still don’t consider them books to be honest, but I do count them as plays. They are short. Usually around 100 pages or less and come in thin pamphlets like booklets. A shock to me since coming into the acting world as a regular mortal.
The momentum I would gain in the next year came from a challenge and goal I set in motion for myself.
2023
I LOVE TO CHALLENGE MYSELF.
I LOVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WHEN CHALLENGING MYSELF.
Speaking to a friend this week, I spoke about being an athlete and how innately, we always try to challenge ourselves. This usually happens on the field of play due to competition, but the really good athletes take that sense of competition with them everywhere.
Turning 34, I felt I had to do something that would align with this. I was in a strange but good place. I was more than halfway through acting school but I was gunning for something that didn’t have to be tangible.
I settled on the goal of reading 34 books at the age of 34.
To this point, I’m not sure if I had read more than 10 or 15 books in a single year. And here I was with this lofty goal of books to match my age. That’s just how my mind works sometimes.
Don’t search for the reasons to exclude yourself from doing something. Sometimes say fuck it and push yourself to see where the dominos land.
Just because you haven’t done it, doesn’t mean you can’t do it.
I wish I could tell you I accomplished this goal, but I fell short. By one book.
I’m not beating myself up or in a “woe is me” spiral sending me to limbo and unknown territory.
I’m happy that I came close to something I set out to do with no inclination on how I would fair.
One thing I made sure to do is tell people my goal. When we voice our goal to people a few things happen.
- They check in on us to see how it’s going
- Telling someone is a reminder to you on what you’re working towards (word is bond)
- It becomes real
There are times where we want to do something but don’t make it known for whatever reason. Fear, scarcity or lack. What we don’t put in the universe doesn’t come true.
Now, I also want to be clear about this…
DON’T TELL YOUR DREAMS, GOALS, AND ASPIRATIONS TO EVERYONE.
Choose people that you trust and want to see you succeed.
Choose people who will assist you in completing this goal
Choose people that will join you on this journey to help you.
Choose people that have goals and dreams as well.
All this matters in who we decide to tell. When we tell the wrong people, we get the feedback we are trying to avoid. There will be many people who tell you what you can’t do. Find those who tell you you CAN do something. Those are the one’s worth confiding in.
2024
2024 brought more hope and expectation.
To continue the journey of reading while also spreading the love and information on the benefits of it.
2023 taught me it isn’t just about the number of books your reading. It’s also the quality.
Not saying that many of the books I read were bad, but I didn’t want this to turn into a competitive rat race for the amount of books I could read in a calendar year.
That’s what’s wrong with the world today. We are more invested in competition rather than running the race at our own pace. Creating rules for ourselves that allow us to feel safe and comfortable with what we’re doing.
I could’ve said I want to read 35 books this year for turning 35. But that’s too original. Cliché.
How about we set the bar lower, but keep it high. How about we focus on reading 20 books but not setting the cap at 20?
There’s no law that states the number of books you choose to read has to end there. Set the bar at 20 and read 30. THAT’S OKAY. See how you feel while reading and reflect. Ask yourself questions.
Am I reading what I want to read?
Am I growing from this material?
Do I enjoy reading these types of books?
What else can I do besides reading these books?
Life happens and you’ll adjust as necessary when asking yourself these things. I’m sure adjustments will be good in the grand scheme of things.
Examining the progress I’ve made so far this year, I will reach my 20 book goal by the end of June. But I don’t plan on stopping there. I will continue reading little by little until the clock strikes midnight on December 31st.
I assure you by then I’ll have set a new PR when it comes to books read in a año (year).
Closing Out
It wasn’t long ago where I began to label myself as a reader.
To be labeled as a reader, you only need to read one book.
Many things might have a hold on your attention but be intentional about your time, what you put into your brain, as well as your body.
Reading does wonders for us and only when we take the time to do it can we feel and see these results.
As you read this now, if you don’t have a reading goal my challenge to you is to set one. Make the conscious decision to jump out of your comfort zone and set a standard for yourself. Then find a way to accomplish it.
Push and surprise yourself page by page. Maybe you’ll fall in love with the book. Maybe you’ll fall in love with the author. Maybe a character seems so similar to someone in your life that it hits home and has a profound impact on you.
There lies the joy in doing something different… DISCOVERY.
STAY HEALTHY
DOUBLE DEE
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